Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis offers career-focused, college-preparatory education for students from families with limited economic resources. The curriculum uses a work-study educational model in which every student attends classes four days a week and does a work-study at a host site one day a week.

Four years ago, Mission Animal Hospital in Eden Prairie became Cristo Rey's first veterinary work-study site. With financial support from MVMA, Mission has hosted four students each year, training them on a variety of veterinary assistant tasks. The initiative aims to expose high school students from diverse backgrounds to the veterinary profession, with the ultimate goal of helping to diversify Minnesota's veterinary workforce. 

MVMA is now eager to support an additional Twin Cities area veterinary practice in hosting one or more Cristo Rey students for an academic year, which could begin as soon as fall 2026.

Please join representatives from MVMA, Cristo Rey, and Mission Animal Hospital for an online info session to learn more about this program and how it's been implemented in a veterinary setting. Attendance at the info session does not obligate you to participate in the future; we encourage you to register even if you are just curious to learn more!

Sign up here.